“…Similarly, the link between NMDA receptor stimulation (Levenson et al, 2004) or PARP-1 activation (Cohen-Armon et al, 2007) and histone acetylation has been demonstrated to require the phosphorylation of ERK. Although in the latter two studies histone acetylation takes place downstream of Erk phosphorylation, it has also been reported that acetylation may precede the activation of pERK (Sinn et al, 2007), as it appears to occur in our experimental model. In conclusion, our results suggest that under conditions of lethal cellular stress, such as those evoked by cerebral ischemia, there is dramatic reduction in histone acetylation that is responsible for neuronal death, whereas, following exposure to a sublethal preconditioning stimulus that leads to the development of ischemic tolerance, mild activation of PARP and histone acetylation (with a possible concomitant reduction in histone deacetylation) cooperate in producing a neuroprotective response.…”